Earl Jeffrey Wentworth (born November 20, 1940) is a Republican former member of the Texas Senate from San Antonio. He represented District 25 in the upper legislative chamber from January 1997 to January 2013. In addition, from 1993 to 1997, he represented District 26, having been initially elected to the state senate in 1992 to succeed fellow Republican Cyndi Taylor Krier, when she became the county judge of Bexar County. District 25 included northern portions of Bexar County, all of Comal, Guadalupe, Hays, and Kendall counties, and a part of southern Travis County.[1][2]
Jeff Wentworth | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Texas Senate from the 25th district | |
| In office 1997–2013 | |
| Preceded by | William "Bill" Sims |
| Succeeded by | Donna Campbell |
| Member of the Texas Senate from the 26th district | |
| In office 1993–1997 | |
| Preceded by | Cyndi Taylor Krier |
| Succeeded by | Gregory Luna |
| State Representative from Texas District 123 (Bexar County) | |
| In office May 11, 1988 – January 12, 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Kae T. Patrick |
| Succeeded by | Frank J. Corte Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Earl Jeffrey Wentworth November 20, 1940 Mercedes, Hidalgo County, Texas, USA |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Karleen Rae "Karla" L. Wentworth |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence(s) | San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Texas A&M University Texas Tech University |
| Profession | Attorney |
From 1988 to 1993, Wentworth was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 123. He won a special election on May 7, 1988, called when Republican Representative Kae T. Patrick of San Antonio resigned during his fourth term.
In 2010, Wentworth wrote to Chairman Ron Blatchley (Chairman of the Texas State University System Board of Regents) a scathing letter from a sitting State Senator expressing his unhappiness with the Texas State University System Board of Regents decision to appoint State Rep. Brian McCall as the Chancellor of the Texas State University System over him. In the letter, Wentworth expressed a strong disagreement with McCall's appointment and repeatedly states that he authored the bill that changed the name of Southwest Texas State University (SWT) to Texas State University-San Marcos (TSU-SM) - an unpopular bill among the vast majority of SWT alumni with suggestions throughout he expected this appointment in part due to carrying this legislation, having it killed in one sub-committee, re-introducing the bill in a rush before another unrelated sub-committee to finally get it passed. Opposition to the bill was not limited to SWT alumni but also included dozens and dozens of Texas Southern University (TSU) faculty, students and alumni aligned with SWT alumni.[3]
In 2012, Wentworth was defeated in his bid for re-nomination. In the Republican primary runoff held on July 31, he lost to Tea Party candidate Donna Campbell, who amassed 45,292 votes (66.2 percent) to Wentworth's 23,168 (33.8 percent).[4]
Wentworth and his wife Karla, a licensed professional interior designer, have two sons, Jason and Matthew Wentworth. After his term in the state Senate, Wentworth was appointed to the position of Precinct 3 justice of the peace by the Bexar County Commission.[5][6]
Election history
editSenate election history of Wentworth.[7]
2012
edit| Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✓ | Donna Campbell | 45,292 | 66.15% | |
| Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent) | 23,168 | 33.84% | ||
| Majority | ||||
| Turnout | 68,460 | |||
2010
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent) | 192,965 | 82.17 | not reported | |
| Libertarian | Arthur Maxwell Thomas, IV | 40,972 | 17.44 | not reported | |
| Independent | Eric R. Anderson | 885 | 0.37 | not reported | |
| Democratic | No candidate on ballot | 0 | 0 | not reported | |
| Turnout | 234,822 | not reported | not reported | ||
2006
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent) | 132,872 | 58.32 | −8.41 | |
| Democratic | Kathleen "Kathi" Thomas | 84,816 | 37.23 | +7.03 | |
| Libertarian | James R. "Bob" Thompson | 10,137 | 4.45 | +1.38 | |
| Majority | 48,056 | 21.09 | −15.45 | ||
| Turnout | 227,825 | +11.14 | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
2002
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent) | 136,802 | 66.73 | −20.70 | |
| Democratic | Joseph "Joe" P. Sullivan | 61,899 | 30.20 | +17.63 | |
| Libertarian | Rex Black | 6,293 | 3.07 | +3.07 | |
| Majority | 74,903 | 36.54 | −38.32 | ||
| Turnout | 204,994 | −36.86 | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
| Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John H. Shields | 25,265 | 48.83 | ||
| ✓ | Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent) | 26,481 | 51.17 | |
| Majority | 1,216 | 2.35 | ||
| Turnout | 51,746 | |||
2000
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent) | 283,857 | 87.43 | −12.57 | |
| Libertarian | George Meeks | 40,806 | 12.57 | +12.57 | |
| Majority | 243,051 | 74.86 | −25.14 | ||
| Turnout | 324,663 | +45.11 | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
1996
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent) | 223,739 | 100.00 | +24.97 | |
| Majority | 223,739 | 100.00 | +46.58 | ||
| Turnout | 223,739 | +5.10 | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
| Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Randy Staudt | 24,930 | 29.54 | ||
| ✓ | Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent) | 59,476 | 70.46 | |
| Majority | 34,546 | 40.93 | ||
| Turnout | 84,406 | |||
1994
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jim Saunders | 53,152 | 24.97 | −26.78 | |
| Republican | Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent)[17] | 159,729 | 75.03 | +26.78 | |
| Majority | 106,577 | 50.06 | +46.58 | ||
| Turnout | |||||
| Republican gain from Democratic | |||||
| Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Archer | 21,341 | 39.66 | ||
| ✓ | Jeff Wentworth (Incumbent) | 32,473 | 60.34 | |
| Majority | 11,132 | 20.69 | ||
| Turnout | 53,814 | |||
1992
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Carlos Higgins | 73,303 | 33.40 | ||
| Republican | Jeff Wentworth | 146,159 | 66.60 | ||
| Majority | 72,856 | 33.20 | |||
| Turnout | 219,462 | ||||
| Republican hold | |||||
| Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alan Schoolcraft | 10,388 | 47.30 | [21]+12.59 | |
| ✓ | Jeff Wentworth | 11,574 | 52.70 | +18.98 |
| Majority | 1,186 | 5.40 | ||
| Turnout | 21,962 | |||
| Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Canady | 1,547 | 3.71 | ||
| John Fisher | 7,222 | 17.30 | ||
| George Boyd Pierce | 4,407 | 10.56 | ||
| ✓ | Alan Schoolcraft | 14,490 | 34.71 | |
| ✓ | Jeff Wentworth | 14,076 | 33.72 | |
| Turnout | 41,742 | |||
References
edit- ^ "Earl Jeffrey Wentworth". Texas State Cemetery. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2007-01-03.
- ^ Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) (2002-09-13). "State Senate Candidates for 2002 General Election". Archived from the original on 2008-02-13. Retrieved 2006-12-27.
- ^ Wentworth's Letter, static.texastribune.org. Accessed May 24, 2023.
- ^ Ward, Mike (1 August 2012). "Campbell ousts Texas Senate veteran Wentworth". Austin American-Statesman. Archived from the original on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
- ^ San Antonio Express-News, November 21, 2012
- ^ Karen Olsson (November 2002). "Mr. Right". Texas Monthly. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
- ^ Uncontested primary elections are not shown.
- ^ "2012 Republican Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved 2012-08-01.
- ^ "2010 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2011-02-02.
- ^ "2006 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
- ^ "2002 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
- ^ "2002 Republican Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
- ^ "2000 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
- ^ "1996 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
- ^ "1996 Republican Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
- ^ "1994 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
- ^ Wentworth was the District 26 incumbent prior to the 1994 Senate redistricting.
- ^ "1994 Republican Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
- ^ "1992 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
- ^ "1992 Republican Party Primary Runoff Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
- ^ Change from primary election
- ^ "1992 Republican Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
External links
edit- Senate of Texas - Senator Jeff Wentworth official TX Senate website
- Project Vote Smart - Senator Earl Jeffrey 'Jeff' Wentworth (TX) profile
- Follow the Money - Jeff Wentworth
- Appearances on C-SPAN